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Ingredient glossary

Ceteareth-20

What Ceteareth-20 does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.

INCI: Ceteareth-20 · Also: Polyoxyethylene cetyl stearyl ether

Minor player

In short: Ceteareth-20 delivers emulsification and texture, suits most skin types, and the evidence behind it is moderate. One thing to know: introduce it gently.

What it does
Emulsification, texture
Best for
Most skin types
Watch out
Introduce it gently
Evidence
Moderate
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Written by Maya FaourHow we score →

What it actually is

Ceteareth-20: A family, not a molecule. Built from a natural fat, so it is a set of related molecules of different chain lengths rather than one. It lifts oil while it is on the skin and then leaves with the water.
There is no single molecule to draw here, and that is the useful part. Which layer things act on

The Glow take

Nice to have, and nothing to overthink.

Ceteareth-20 plays a quiet supporting role, rounding out a formula rather than being the reason you buy it.

— Maya

What it does

  • emulsification
  • texture
  • mildness

moderate evidenceCeteareth-20 is a nonionic emulsifier and the most-used ingredient in its family, reported in 955 formulations in the CIR review of alkyl PEG ethers, which found the group safe as used when formulated to be non-irritating. The concentrations on record come from industry use surveys rather than efficacy tests: 0.008 to 11 percent across all products, and 0.05 to 2 percent in face and neck creams, so no published figure says how much is actually needed to hold an emulsion. The same review notes ceteareths, ceteareth-20 especially, increase absorption of whatever else is in the formula, and that they should be free of the 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide that ethoxylation can leave behind; the SCCS considers a trace of 10 ppm or less in a finished product safe.

On a label: usually effective at 1-5%.

Who it's for, and who should skip it

Tends to suit

  • dry
  • normal
  • combo
  • oily

Approach with care

  • very sensitive
  • acne prone
  • Clogs poresModerate
  • Irritation riskModerate

How it fits each skin type

  • DrySuits
  • CombinationSuits
  • OilySuits
  • SensitiveTake care

Take extra care if any of these apply to you: acne prone.

Where it fits in your routine

WhenMorning or evening
Where in the orderAfter cleansing, before your moisturizer

Plays well with

  • emulsifiers
  • fatty alcohols

Ceteareth-20, answered

Is Ceteareth-20 safe during pregnancy?

Yes. Ceteareth-20 is considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As with anything, if you are unsure it is worth a quick word with your doctor or midwife.

Who should avoid Ceteareth-20?

Approach Ceteareth-20 with care if any of these apply to you: very sensitive and acne prone. Its irritation risk is moderate, so introduce it slowly and patch test first. It carries a moderate risk of clogging pores, so acne-prone skin should go carefully.

What concentration of Ceteareth-20 actually works?

Ceteareth-20 tends to do its job in the 1 to 5% range. Much lower and it is likely underdosed.

This, for every label you own

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Sources & how we reviewed this

  1. PMID 23064774abstract only, the full text is paywalled
  2. SCCS/1570/15 (EU Scientific Committee opinion)read in full

Last reviewed August 2026. Educational information about a cosmetic ingredient, not medical advice.